How to convert a bass to fretless - Fix it Friday #9 AJG

Fix it Friday #9:
Today I show you how to convert your bass into a fretless bass.
This is a Yamaha 6 string bass guitar that I am converting for a customer.
Parts used:
Padauk wood veneer
Titebond regular glue
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Website
www.alexanderja...
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/ alexanderjamesguitars
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[@gabedestellano]

Nice job man, I was just going to fill mine with epoxy but this gave me a completely new idea. Thanks!

[@528stevieethereal8]

I pulled the frets off my fender acoustic with a penknife last week...sanded it &restrung it with banjo strings... Killer...

[@777Lateralus]

Yea, guitar killer lol

[@adyingsensemusic]

Hey man, what did oil and wax do you use? Also does the padauk make a visible line for fret markers or does it keep a flat fingerboard look?

[@larrygk1257]

What grade(s) of sandpaper did you use? Also didn't know superglue was sandable. Thanks.

[@zzzGroove]

well done. Question: do the new fretlines help well with orientation? Lighter timber ...

[@sauronthelordofdarkness2269]

take a shot everytime you hear "padauk".

[@alexanderjamesINC]

Rawhead Rex hahahaha good luck!!! Call in sick tomorrow. LOL

[@sauronthelordofdarkness2269]

lol, good vid.

[@smegulate9826]

really committed to that pronunciation lol

[@KordTaylor]

Thank you for the video as my son and I are going to work on a fretless conversion.

[@JuaumJuse123]

Hey, I got 2 questions: - When a fret slot is much thicker than the wood veneer (for example, the first fret slot of the fretboard), do you glue 2 or more wood veneers to achieve the desired thickness? - How do you trim down the wood veneer on the sides of the fretboard? You first trimmed with scissors, then what? Thanks in advance, and keep up the good work!

[@alexanderjamesINC]

You could glue up the veneer. Just sand the sides with a wooden block and sand paper attached to it. Sorry for the late reply.

[@joedejesus6363]

You do excellent work, I can always tell a craftsman when he works how he always pays attention to detail. What would a "Luthier" charge to actually do this? The great advantage I see to a fretless guitar is the elimination of "Fret Buzz" Thanks for sharing your fret-less technique.👍

[@MartialdjsHudsonJeanMDH]

It would probably depend on how fancy you want it but it would probably be in the $100 charge range unless the Luthier is doing something SUPER custom

[@waltdog123]

Appreciate the tutorial! My only reservation is wanting fret markers in the correct position for fretless.

[@alexanderjamesINC]

Makes sense!

[@BbB-rh6sj]

Hello! What kind of products you used to protect the fretboard?

[@flawless_royal4056]

If I just remove the frets and throw on the strings would it be the same as if I did this?

[@tomek9966]

GREAT video. Will thin super glue be better and actually wont make wood swell? I`m going to use super glue for whole conversion..

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Nice job. I’ve noticed fender fretless basses all have lines now. I bought 2 Squier j basses and one is gonna be converted to fretless but I don’t like the lines, is darker veneer recommended and can you paint it after if they’re still visible?

[@camoswald6752]

Is the truss rod tightened when leveling the board

[@MrPantherfan00]

Can this be done on an acoustic bass guitar? I dont see why it couldnt but maybe theres something i dont know about

[@alexanderjamesINC]

cole dobler you definitely could!

[@boseifrit5480]

You probably wouldnt be able to detach the neck, however it would still work, its just be more awkward

[@sir7689]

Putting roundwounds back on? 🤔

[@alexanderjamesINC]

The customer requested them.

[@bigbokiptd]

Great video as always. Thank you so much Alex

[@alexanderjamesINC]

bigbokiptd thanks so much. I appreciate it.

[@ernieflanaganstingraybassm1463]

great job my friend.......

[@alexanderjamesINC]

Thank you!

[@stevenvantrans7810]

I live very close to Peterborough ... I once had a fender bass fretted and took it and changed it to fretless with a kokabola wood fingerboard . Can you take off an existing fretted rosewood fretboard and put a whole new one on like I've had done years ago ? ( rosewood is fine ) I just don't like seeing fret lines at all .

[@alexanderjamesINC]

steven van trans for sure! Just message me through my website and we can talk about it.

[@Ucceah]

i've got nothing to criticise about the video's quality, but as a tutorial, ..yeah! missed the most important part, bringing the string action WAY down, especially at the nut, ideally putting flatwounds on there, and take the time to fine-tune the saddle height and neckt relief over 2-3 daiys, if you want the mwah. (you may not know it yety but you want the mwah!) and if you're using superglue anyways, just use veneer that fits snugly, and superglue it in place, like shown here.

[@alexanderjamesINC]

Good points for sure. Sorry I glassed over those. If I make another video like this one, I will try and be more thorough.

[@johnberry1204]

Don't you have to adjust the nut height now there's no frets ?

[@alexanderjamesINC]

Yes, that is correct.

[@wesleyzimmerman94]

The easiest thing to do with getting the veneer level, from what I've seen others do, is to just cut it to size, glue it in and then just sand it down

[@alexanderjamesINC]

Wesley Zimmerman for sure. With this project, I wanted all the slots filled with wood. I wanted to try and minimize any gap possible by perfectly trimming the wood to fit.

[@wesleyzimmerman94]

Well, I meant that they cut it just larger than the fret slot then glued and sanded

[@alexanderjamesINC]

Right on. I hear you.

[@leoneddy1492]

NICE JOB

[@JorgeCrow261]

can see more photos? nice work

[@MichaelStoneham]

Mmmmm why did you not use superglue to finish this fretboard. This is common with fretless even on rosewood

[@alexanderjamesINC]

Not requested.

[@marcusingram8455]

Where can I find the veneer wood strips

[@alexanderjamesINC]

Try your local exotic woods supplier. Anything higher than a normal lumber store.

[@MrLolwut88]

can i just chisel my frets without doing any of this?

[@Eatfard_5150]

Not a good idea you may damage the fretboard but dude if you absolutely want to be my best guest

[@danedwards_sonicart]

Engulfed in Flames I think he was joking....

[@hatred9427]

It won't feel great, I'll tell you that. Shifting will destroy your fingers because of the spacing.

[@Clemos137]

That's a very nice bass!

[@rebelfriend9902]

I have a fretless bass now

[@moustaphabalde7581]

did it go exactly like how he said?

[@alexanderjamesINC]

hahahaahahaha

[@TheFightingLion92]

I need you to tell me what oil and what wax you put on there sir. Please and thank you 👍

[@alexanderjamesINC]

Sorry, I can't. It's a proprietary blend that took me years to perfect.

[@calusfootpics]

@@alexanderjamesINC is there a general product you could recommend?

[@michaelhiggs8657]

What gauge of sand paper?

[@YueZhangMusic]

How much does this cost

[@juncando]

Awesome. Thanks.

[@alexanderjamesINC]

You're welcome!

[@MartyMcFlyV]

No epoxy?

[@alexanderjamesINC]

The customer did not want epoxy. He has another bass with an epoxy covered fretboard.

[@ulasgursoy2838]

Why use veneer instead of wood filler?

[@alexanderjamesINC]

Ulaş Gürsoy for me, it is just easier. I also find it just looks nicer.

[@ulasgursoy2838]

Thanks for the reply. Wood filler seems easier, I'll probably use that.

[@alexanderjamesINC]

Wood veneer also allows you to pick different wood colours. All personal preference!

[@TomGoldsmithguitar]

great point actually

the veneer will give you nicer lines so you know on which fret you are

[@lanes58]

This is done wrong. After marking the radius of neck on the veneer strip as shown, you use a scissor, and cut on the curved pencil line. Then, when you drop the veneer strip in, you will have the curve, and there will be no rocking of the strip, which will then fit flush on the bottom of the fret slot.

[@chrisgambaro-vega9504]

You mean DIFFERENTLY. If it were wrong, the bass wouldn't be playable. He achieved zero rock on the strips. So..... yeah.

[@TomGoldsmithguitar]

10/10

[@chrismichaelyoung]

you should put flatwound strings on a fretless neck

[@alexanderjamesINC]

This particular customer uses a custom set of string gauge and loves round wound. So round wound it is! He sounds amazing on this bass.

[@Octo_Ink_Art]

It may sound amazing but he is going to damage the fretboard so bad. So nice and clean work by the way. I would give my bass to your hands my eyes wide shot. :)

[@emdiar6588]

Chris Young. A lot of bassists disagree. Jaco used roundwound and so do I. That said, I own a cheap fretless conversion for playing at home that was DIYed in the same way as in this video by the previous owner. I am about to finish the job properly, because the wood used for the fingerboard of a fretless bass has to be harder than the cheaper cuts used on fretted instruments, and you really should apply a layer of glass-hard epoxy resin or, at the very least, three or four layers of superglue, before sanding and polishing, or you won't get the sustain and your strings will eventually eat into the wood, flat or roundwound.

[@ZaTsoja]

@@alexanderjamesINC No, this CONVERTED bass STILL JENTS, LIKE THE FRETTED ONE. Not only strings- The board must BE FLAT from its origin.

[@maxonmendel5757]

@@Octo_Ink_Art thats fine cause after a few refinishings, you have intonation again

[@richwallace6854]

Am I the only player who would perform this task by just calling Warmoth and ordering a neck??

[@alexanderjamesINC]

Once you do it enough, it's honestly not that difficult.

[@squirlmy]

I don't understand why you wouldn't replace the whole fretboard. From what I understand, heating it with a clothes iron will completely loosen the glue that holds it in, at least with standard fretboard installations. Unless you're getting paid by the hour, I guess. ;D

[@flokijhdfjkvnhsdfjkl]

Here is a link for some really great filler on ebay luthier-wood-filler-veneer-0-020-thin-great-for-fretless-bass-conversion-filler

[@alexanderjamesINC]

Thanks fret master!

[@RedPillAwake]

"I already took the frets out.." but to see that is why I am watching the video. Fail.